Title: G3 12th Grade Options Student Incentive Program Grant

Recommendation:
 I recommend that the School Board approve the 12th Grade Options Student Incentive Program Competitive Grant in the amount of $104,147 effective through June 30, 2005 and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all documents and contracts related to the grant which are required for implementation of grant activities.

Description:

Consider approval of the Florida Department of Education 12th Grade Options Student Incentive Program Grant.  This grant will fund the District with $104,147 in order to recruit, enroll, and retain qualifying students who did not pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and consequently received a Certificate of Completion. 

This is a new program designed to increase the graduation rate of the District, as well as to counsel and advise students on achieving their goals.  Collaboration with Workforce Alliance is established for eligible students requiring employment, job skills, social services and/or career paths. 

The program will be implemented in the following five (5) community schools, of which the majority are classified as AAA Schools in the District:
    Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, serving the north area;
    Forest Hill Community High School, serving the central area;
    Boynton Beach Community High School, serving the south area;
    Glades Central Community High School, serving the Belle Glade and Pahokee areas;
    Wellington Community High School, serving the west area.

This grant will increase the District's graduation rate by providing an instructional program for FCAT strategies and remediation in reading and mathematics.  Teachers must be trained in the CRISS method of Reading and manipulative approaches to mathematics and will incorporate a variety of instructional methods for each FCAT standard in the classroom in order to meet every student's need and learning style. Furthermore, the instructional program will utilize FCAT web-based and internet training such as FCAT Explorer. 

Guidance counselors in each site will recruit students from the area who graduated with a Certificate of Completion for counseling and make appropriate placement where students will be successful.  A determination of placement will be based on the students' FCAT scores.  Students will have the opportunity for counseling and referral(s) to programs,  such as GED preparation classes, GED Fast Track, Adult High School Credit, ESOL classes, Workforce Alliance, Common Placement Test (CPT), and Technical /Career opportunities.

Funding will be used primarily for teacher and counselor salaries as well as purchasing instructional material.

Evaluation criteria will include, but not limited to, Counselor logs of student referrals and attainment of the  grant's performance goals.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the District is a $104,147 increase to the Special Revenue-Other Funds budget.  

For Additional Information, contact:
Chuck Shaw/ E. Wayne Gent/Ann Killets/(akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

Attachments (list):
Grant attachment 2.16.05.doc
Certificate of Completion Data.pdf
Individual School Panels.pdf
G3 Ms Burdick Q & A 021605 meeting.doc
G3 Dr. Robinson Q & A 021605 meeting.doc